Nature has given us abundant resources wrapped around mysteries to explore. Medicinal Mushrooms are a relatively lesser-known gift of nature that holds benefits beyond imagination. There are 2.2 million mushroom species in nature. And people know around 10,000. Among them, only 200 mushrooms are usable for medicinal purposes. About 10 of them are common due to many factors.
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In this article, we will describe medicinal mushrooms and their common benefits. We talk a bit about the ten most important medicinal mushrooms. Answer most common questions people ask about medicinal mushrooms.
Let’s start.
What are Medicinal Mushrooms?
Medicinal mushrooms are a special group of fungi that help the body in many ways. They have natural compounds called bioactives that can improve health and wellness. While all mushrooms have some of these compounds, medicinal mushrooms have stronger ones. These stronger compounds give them more powerful health benefits compared to regular mushrooms. Some mushrooms can be both a functional and a medicinal food. But some of the variants are strictly medicinal.
Medicinal mushrooms widely contain health boosting components like β-D-glucans and polysaccharides. They also contain proteins, peptides, terpenoids, polyphenols, sterols, and vitamins. The benefits of mushrooms are not a recent discovery. They have been used as food, medicine, and a psychedelic item for millennia. Mushrooms are popular around the world. But China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan have the oldest tradition of eating them. Mushrooms are popular for their immune system boosting effect. They also regulate inflammation, protect from free radicals, and contain antimicrobial effects. Many of them also come with anti-tumor, anti-obesity, and anti-ageing properties.
Mushrooms come with high nutrient density and low calories. They have low fat and a high amount of fiber and protein. We will learn those in more detail in the following section.
What are proven health benefits of Medical Mushrooms?
Medical mushrooms are one of the top foods with high nutrient density. The benefits of medical mushrooms are widely researched and scientifically proven. With proper knowledge and application, mushrooms can be your most powerful key to good health. And there are so many varieties and effects; mushrooms have everything you need. Before discussing each mushroom separately, let’s understand the overall benefits first.
Immune-boosting Power
If you want to know what the top benefit of mushrooms is, it is supporting the immune system for most species. They contain β-D-glucans and polysaccharide–protein complexes. These help support your immune system. They activate macrophages, NK cells, and T-lymphocytes. These cells act like your body’s army. They fight infection, disease, and cancer. If you catch a fever or a cold, mushrooms can be one of the best natural medicines you can take.
Antioxidant support
Many mushrooms contain a great amount of antioxidants which help you to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals cause oxidative stress to the body. This stress causes many problems. It leads to premature aging, skin issues, and heart problems. It can also damage brain tissues and cause related diseases.
Cardiovascular Support
Many medical mushrooms improve the lipid profile in blood. If you have a blood pressure problem, you may get good benefits from medical mushrooms. They also inhibit platelet aggregation, which reduces the risk of heart disease. Another common molecule that reduces bad cholesterol is Linoleic acid. Many mushroom species contain this molecule.
Blood sugar control
There are some mushrooms, such as Cordyceps, that help to lower blood glucose and improve insulin sensitivity. If you have type 2 diabetes, this may be a natural sugar control agent for you. However, you should be careful about drug interactions. Consuming those mushrooms with other sugar-lowering medicines may cause adverse health effects.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Compounds like Triterpenoids found in Reishi and Chaga mushrooms have excellent anti-inflammatory effects. It suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines, helping to remove inflammation from the body.
Antiviral and antibacterial effects
Many medicinal mushrooms have cordycepin and other compounds. These stop bacteria and viruses from multiplying inside the body. Some mushrooms have a positive effect even against HIV and hepatitis viruses.
Mental Power Boosting
Some mushroom-like Lion’s mane contains compounds like hericenones and erinacines. They work as nerve growth factors supporting brain health, memory, and mood.
How do medical mushrooms impact wellness?
Mushrooms are one of the best wellness boosting foods. They are very low in calories, contain no fat, and simple sugar. They are rich in active biocomponents that directly improve your health and wellness. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are the best things you can get from mushrooms.
They will keep your skin, eyes, and brain in check from underlying stress that erodes our health slowly. With a high amount of fiber, they also provide digestive health benefits. Medical mushrooms can help you minimize your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. Mushrooms are your natural health supplement with many benefits.
What are the best mushroom supplements?
There is no one fit size for all – true for mushroom supplements. There are ten types of medicinal mushrooms. They are better for different wellness goals. For example – Lion’s mane supplements are best for brain health, focus, memory. Chaga & Resisi are best for anti-aging, longevity. While cordyceps are better for stamina, energy.
We will go deeper one by one.
What is the best mushroom supplement for muscle?
Cordyceps is one of the rare mushrooms that comes with muscle benefits. It contains cordycepin and adenosine, which help boost cellular energy and ATP production. It improves the use of oxygen and provides relief from fatigue. Cordyceps supplements are an excellent choice for athletes and muscle builders. They help increase strength and stamina.
Top 10 types of Medicinal mushrooms & Unique uses
There are over 200 mushrooms that are categorized as medical mushrooms. But some of them are more popular for their health benefits, availability, cultivation methods, and other factors. Check out the top 10 medical mushrooms and what you can expect from them.
Lion’s Mane
Lion’s Mane is a large mushroom known for their brain boosting effect. It is often called a smart mushroom. It is widely used for mental clarity by students and professionals.
Key component: β-glucans, hericenones, erinacines
Main Health benefits:
This mushroom comes with a nerve growth factor that supports brain health, improves focus, memory, and clarity. They also come with powerful antioxidants.
Availability:
They are easily found as capsules, powder gummies, with coffee, and fresh in dedicated mushroom stores.
Price: $15–$35 Capsules, $11–$17 per pound fresh.
Reishi
Reishi mushroom is known as the mushroom of immortality due to its potent health and wellness benefits. They are valued for their immune support, resilience, and calming effects. They are used widely for their health-promoting effects.
Key component: Triterpenes, polysaccharides (β-glucans)
Main Health benefits: Reishi mushrooms contain immunity-boosting effects. They reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. They promote sleep, heart health, and liver health. They also complement cancer therapies.
Availability: They are found in capsules, extracts, and powder form.
Price: $16–$40 for capsules, and about 17$ for 100g powder.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps are one of the rarest mushrooms that are found in the Himalayan mountain caterpillars. They are a popular energy boosting and adaptogenic mushroom. Athletes, biohackers, and muscle builders use this mushroom.
Key component: Cordycepin, adenosine, β-glucans
Main Health benefits: They boost energy usage by increasing ATP production and improving oxygen use. They also fight fatigue, support heart health, and regulate blood sugar.
Availability: They are easily found in capsule, tablet, and powder form.
Price: $15–$25 per bottle.
Chaga
Changa is a burnt-looking fungus that grows in northern climates. They have a long history of use as medicine in Siberian culture. They are full of antioxidant and immune-supporting effects.
Key component: Polyphenols, triterpenes, β-glucans, melanin
Main Health benefits:
They support immune function, reduce inflammation, protect skin, and neutralize free radicals. They are also used to maintain cellular health and slow down the aging process. They also have a great effect on gut and metabolic health.
Availability: They are found in capsule, powder, and tea form. You can also find some products that mix it with coffee for convenience.
Price: $20–$30 for 60 g–100 g powder.
Turkey Tail
Turkey Tail is a fan-shaped and colorful mushroom known for its great benefits for immune health. They are widely used in Chinese medicine. The mushroom is growing in popularity in wellness circles.
Key component: Polysaccharide-K (PSK), polysaccharide-peptide (PSP), β-glucans
Main Health benefits: They activate T cells and macrophages, which are advanced immune cells of our body. They also feed gut microbes, providing probiotic benefits. They are often used alongside cancer treatment.
Availability: They are available in fresh form, powder, capsule, and tea form.
Price: 30 capsules cost about $20, and a larger amount is cheaper.
Shiitake
Shiitake is a popular functional food mushroom. It also comes with outstanding health and wellness benefits. It supports heart health. Immune function and overall wellness.
Key component: Lentinan, eritadenine, β-glucans
Main Health benefits: Eritadenine lowers the cholesterol level in blood and reduces inflammation. It’s effects are beneficial for heart health. They also come with antioxidant effects and anticancer properties due to their lentinan content.
Availability: It is available in the marketplaces as capsules and powders.
Price: ~$22 per 100 capsules.
Maitake
Maitake aka dancing mushroom is not only delicious but full of nutrients. They also have several health boosting abilities that make them more attractive. They are often consumed and celebrated in Japanese culture. They come with metabolism boosting, weight management and immunity enhancing power.
Key component: D-fraction β-glucans, glycoproteins
Main Health benefits: They have an excellent power to regulate blood sugar and reduce insulin sensitivity. They strengthen the immune cells and support weight management. Research has shown they also have anticancer and anti-tumor potential.
Availability: Found in extract, capsule and powder blends.
Price: $22–$32 for 60-32 capsules.
Oyster
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most common kitchen mushrooms. But most people don’t know they also have several medical benefits. They are also one of the easily grown mushrooms.
Key component: β-glucans, ergothioneine, lovastatin-like compounds
Main Health benefits: Oyster mushrooms work amazingly to reduce blood cholesterol. It supports heart health and metabolism. It offers powerful antioxidants like ergothioneine. It also nourishes gut bacteria and improves skin health.
Availability: Dry and fresh mushrooms are most available. You can also get it in powder form.
Price: $25–$40 for 30–60 servings
Agaricus
It is a Brazilian mushroom now grown in many parts of the world for its medicinal powers. It comes with immune enhancing power and anticancer effects.
Key component: β-glucans, ergosterol, lectins
Main Health benefits: The mushroom activates immune cells such NK cells and macrophages. This effect strengthens the immune system of the body. It also helps regulate blood sugar and shows antitumor effects. They also have the power to balance metabolism and protect the liver from harmful chemicals.
Availability: They are found as extracts, and capsules.
Price: $20–$40 for 60–120 count
Tremella
Tremella is also known as snow mushroom. They come with a jelly-like gentle appearance. They have been used as traditional skin hydration and wellness items.
Key component: Polysaccharides, antioxidants, vitamin D
Main Health benefits: Their jelly part deeply hydrates the skin and enhances collagen and moisture retention. They also improve immune health and offer powerful antioxidants to the body.
Availability: Available as beauty supplements, capsules and powder.
Price: $25–$40 for 30–60 capsules.
What are the main compounds of Medicinal Mushrooms?
Here are the common components of medical mushrooms—
β-D-glucans: Stimulate the immune system and come with anticancer properties.
Polysaccharide: Improves immune response and works as an antioxidant.
Triterpenes: Anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and potential anti-tumor agents.
Polyphenols: Powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals.
Ergothioneine: A Unique antioxidant that protects the energy pathway and mitochondria.
Cordycepin: A Powerful compound that improves energy function and contains antiviral effects.
Adenosine: Supports the production of ATP and improves heart health.
Lentinan: Comes with anticancer and immunostimulatory effects.
PSK (Polysaccharide-K): An Anticancer agent used in cancer immunotherapy.
Lectins: Bind to the cell surface and protect the cell from viral infection.
Ergosterol: A type of fungal sterol that turns into vitamin D2. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Peptides and glycoproteins: They help the body. They support nerve signals, control body functions, and repair tissues.
Lovastatin-like compounds:
They are known for cholesterol-reducing effects, commonly found in oyster mushrooms.
Melanin: It has powerful anti-radiation and antioxidant capabilities,
Functional mushroom vs Medicinal mushroom
Functional mushrooms are consumed as food or supplements for their nutritional and health benefits. It contains macro and micro nutrients as well as some health benefits like boosting immunity and metabolism. On the other hand, medicinal mushrooms are medically researched and proven variants of mushrooms that have medicinal power. The difference is in the scientific validation and recognition. All mushrooms are functional, but not all of them are medicinal mushrooms. Oyster mushroom has health benefits, but it is not a medicinal mushroom. On the other hand, Reishi and Lion’s mane come with medicinal properties like brain boosting.
What is an adaptogenic mushroom?
Adaptogenic mushrooms help the body handle stress and inflammation. They also balance metabolism and hormone responses. Cordyceps, reishi, and lion’s mane are some of the powerful adaptogenic mushrooms. Triterpenoids and polysaccharides are some of the common adaptogenic agents in those mushrooms.
Why are medicinal mushrooms considered the healthiest superfood?
Medicinal mushrooms are considered as healthiest superfoods due to their potent health benefits. They have special effects to improve, enhance, and balance health. They contain several bioactive components. These include β-glucans, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, peptides, and triterpenes. These compounds provide immunomodulatory, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory benefits. In our superfood category, medicinal mushrooms belong to the third group. This group includes superfoods with special abilities.
Read the basics of superfoods to get a holistic view.
Is a mushroom good for pets?
Some components of medical mushrooms can be beneficial for the pet’s health, such as antioxidants and beta-glucan. But hold on, it will not be a good idea to feed your pet a mushroom without being very sure. There are many types of mushrooms, and also many types of pets. But sadly, medical safety data on mushrooms for pets are lacking. So, it is vital to ask your veterinarian before feeding your pet any mushrooms.
Do mushrooms have side effects for humans?
Yes, medicinal mushrooms can have side effects. Eating them without caution may cause health problems. Over consumption of certain medical mushrooms can block some nutrient and mineral absorption. Most medicinal mushrooms are not yet well researched for all human conditions. Such as people during pregnancy, lactation, or children should not eat medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms contain strong bioactive compounds. These can easily interact with many types of medicine. So, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking any medicinal mushrooms. Especially if you have a health condition.
What is the best way to take medicinal mushrooms?
The best way to take medicinal mushrooms depends on your goal, health, lifestyle, and mushroom type. Firstly, you can always eat fresh mushrooms from a mushroom store, supermarket, or online. But when it comes to medicinal mushrooms, it is often hard to get fresh ones at hand. Fresh ones have some problems too. When you are taking mushrooms for medicinal purposes, it is better to maintain regularity. Fresh ones don’t last long. They are not available all the time. But don’t worry, there are a lot of alternative options.
Extract: Most medicinal mushrooms can be found in extract powder form. Those provide high bioavailability and are ideal for blending into any food you like.
Capsules and tablets: Capsules and tablets are the most convenient options. They are perfect for people who travel, work, or don’t like the medicinal mushroom taste.
Tea: Medicinal mushrooms are also used in tea form. Boiling dried mushrooms also activates the bioactive components in the tea.
Mixed Drink: Some mushroom powder is mixed with coffee, latte, and other drink mixes. Those are also viable options for some people.
Conclusion
Medicinal Mushrooms are a miracle of nature. They are one of the most powerful ingredients for boosting organic wellness. Mushrooms are the future of food and nutrition. There is a lot you can learn about mushrooms. This article provides an overall condensed overview of popular types of medical mushrooms. Hope this will trigger your curiosity to learn about them more.
Read more about Lion’s mane, cordyceps & other medicinal mushrooms . Take mushroom supplements properly.
Mr. Shariful Alam Pavel believes in natural living. To live a healthy conscious living, we need to eat green, live green. MyOrganic Bd is a green wellbeing brand, educating millions to live a better life with mother nature.
